Two 'Idols,' one goal: a long career in music

April 17, 2013|By Luis Gomez

Singer Lee DeWyze performs at the 4th Annual Life Changing Lives Gala Honoring Muhammad Ali at City National Grove of Anaheim on September 11, 2011 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic)

Life has gone on for Kris Allen and Lee DeWyze — the 2009 and 2010 winners of Fox's "American Idol," respectively — since they parted ways with RCA Records.

Allen, who famously beat out runner-up Adam Lambert, will become a father in July. And once his wrist recovers from a car accident he was involved in on New Year's Day, he will begin working on his next album — regardless, he says, of whether he has signed with a new label by then. As for DeWyze, a paint store employee from Mount Prospect before 'Idol,' he got married to model and actress Jonna Walsh in July and signed with Vanguard Records in January. DeWyze expects to release his next album this year and recently released the single "Silver Lining."

With both singers performing in the Chicago area this weekend — DeWyze Friday at Viper Alley in Lincolnshire and Allen Saturday at Lincoln Hall in the Lincoln Park neighborhood — I took the opportunity to ask both about life after "Idol," their musical independence and their advice for future winners of the singing competition. Here is an edited transcript of what they said over the phone during separate interviews:

Q: How have you changed since "Idol"?

DeWyze: It makes you grow up very fast. I know the industry better and can give a lecture on albums and the business side of it. I'm kind of a learn-it-all type of person. I like to know the ins and outs, not because I like to complicate things, but because at some point in my life when I'm older, I want to be working in the industry — maybe as the creative head of a label, or maybe I'll have my own label.

Allen: I feel like I know more about the music business, myself, things I'm good at and not good at. I'm more self-aware than before. I'm more driven since "Idol." I'm more aware of my goals and how those can be accomplished. I've changed in a lot of good ways.

Q: Where would you be without "Idol"?

DeWyze: I can't really say where I'd be. I only know I'd be playing music. There's nothing else I'd rather do. I don't know anything else. I'd like to think I would have had a good following. I probably would have ended up in L.A. anyway. I thank God every day that I get to do what I love.

Allen: I think I would have stuck with music, but I don't think I would have pursued music as a career. I always enjoyed playing, but it would probably be locally. I'm so lucky I got on the show. Not that my life was bad, but it was headed in a very mediocre direction.

Q: What is your advice for future 'Idol' winners?

DeWyze: Be honest and figure out what you want to do before you start doing things. If you're not sure what you want to do and (you) start doing things, you'll stop halfway through like, "I wasted this." Find people you trust, and if you don't trust someone around you, get rid of them. Stick to your guns, but also understand you're the new kid on the block. And be easy-going. You want to leave a room or a radio station or venue and have people walk away thinking, "Wow, what a nice person. I can't wait to have them back." Also, don't put out an album you don't believe in. That's the biggest thing. If you put out an album you don't believe in, people will know.

Allen: I'd say the biggest thing is, if in your gut you don't feel something is right, don't do it. Make sure that whatever you do, it's you and what you want it to be and the image you want to put across.

Q: What are the benefits of being an independent artist?

DeWyze: It's great to have freedom and be respected by people who have in the business for 50-plus years. And there was no time frame for me (to record the next album). I got to put together the pieces when I wanted to. There was no "You have two months to get it out" and just (throw) it out there.

Allen: We've talked (about) some. I want somebody that will take care of me and believe in me — somebody that wants to do what I want to do. I've had good experiences with labels. But if I can't do that, I'm happy to put the (next) album out myself. I think you can do that these days with the way the music industry is changing. The thing I've run into with labels is, I feel things take longer than they need to. If I was able to do my own record, I could spend three weeks on it and it would be done.

Q: What were the benefits of being on a major record label?

DeWyze: Being on a major label means promotion and having financial backing, for some people. For me, it wasn't there. Major labels work for some people, but I don't think it's the right fit for me right now.

Allen: Promotion, radio play, money. They fund the money for your record. When you make your own record, you fund it. You might find this surprising, but I don't have as much money as RCA does.